What does the Quran say about the crucifixion of Jesus?

It is commonly held by Muslims that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ did not occur. Depending on the interpretation of the following verse, Muslim scholars have different opinions. Some believe that God gave someone Jesus' appearance, causing everyone to believe that Jesus was crucified.

It is stated in the Quran, That they said (in their boast), "We killed the Messiah Isa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), The Messenger of Allah"- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety They killed him not-Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise- Q 4:157-158.

Most Muslims believe this to mean that Jesus Christ never died but Allah made it appear to the people that he had been died. Most Muslims believe he was raised to Heaven without being put on the cross and God transformed another person to appear exactly like Jesus who was crucified instead of Jesus. This causes some serious problems that need to be addressed. If Allah tricked people into believing Jesus was died then this means that Allah started Christianity by his own deception, and He allowed Christians to be deceived. The whole foundation of the Christian faith is rested on death of Jesus. The historical reality of Jesus death is an essential of the Christian faith. Without Jesus death his resurrection becomes irrelevant, and without the resurrection Christianity itself is rendered meaningless, i.e. 1 Corinthians 15:14 "and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain." According to history hundreds of thousands of Christians--men, women, and children--were tortured and killed for their faith in Christianity. This means that Allah started Christianity and allowed thousands of people to give their life for something that was all a deception.

From what I've studied, the Qur’an states that a prophet cannot lie (deceive another by implication). So, here's something that I have yet to hear apologetics on. Allah is proclaimed to be truthful in all things. Yet, many Muslims believe that Allah saved Jesus from the death of the cross and will confirm that Allah only made it look as if Jesus died. 

Now, if I led a person to believe one thing, then did something else, it would be counted as deception on my part. I would have deceived a person, which causes them to believe a lie and creates a stumbling block. 

If we (humans) are held to present the truth at all times, then why would Allah be permitted to deceive mankind through the faked death of Jesus on the cross? I just find this to create an inconsistency in the character represented of Allah.

It seems most incongruent with Islamic doctrine regarding the character of Allah to maintain that Allah would have either needed or chosen to resort to chicanery and mass deception in order to spare the life of Jesus.

Please look carefully at the verse. The question of "killing" is the issue. In response to the claim by the Jews that they killed Jesus, Allah's reply is that (1) he was not killed or murdered in the normal fashion (2) he was not killed by crucifixion. This negates the possibility of Jews killing Jesus in any manner whatsoever, supported by the very last sentence of the same verse: "they could not kill him for certain."  If we further say that someone else was hanged in his place, then we are really messing up everything and failing to see the true message of the Quran.

In the verse 4:157 please notice carefully, “WA lakin shubbiha lahum” means "He was made to resemble to them" or "it was made to resemble to them" or "a likeness of that was made for them" or "a similitude was made for them" -- not "someone was made to resemble him".  In the sentences, "it" or "that" refers to the incident and not a person.

In fact, I don't see in Q 4:157-158 a denial of Christ's death, nor yet a denial of His crucifixion. Actually, I see a harmony between the text of that Surah, and John's gospel, when Jesus said; Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.- John 10.17-18.

The Jews always claimed that they killed the Masih, the son of Maryam (the Messiah, son of Mary). Allah is telling Muhammad that although they claimed that they killed the Masih, in reality they could not murder him nor could they kill him by crucifixion. Then again, in the very same verse, Allah is telling that they could not kill him for certain.

Two types of death are being discussed here (a) a general murder (b) killing by crucifixion.  The Jews wanted to cause either of the two types of death to Jesus. Allah assures us that they failed to cause either type of death to him. The traditional Muslim faith is that since Jesus was not murdered or killed by crucifixion, only possibility is that he is never died!!! Even if we read in Quran 5:117 Jesus says “…but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them, and Thou art witness of all things.”  (Q. 5:117)

Also Surah 3:54 states: "When Allah said: 'O Jesus, I will cause thee to die and exalt thee in My presence and clear thee of those who disbelieve..." In so many ways that seems to corroborate with Philippians 2:8-10 which states: "And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth; "

It is so then that Jesus was not actually killed by the Jews, but it only appeared to them that they killed Him, but in fact He laid His own life down for us on the cross. If Jesus lay down his life and died, it is still valid that the Jews could not (a) murder him or (b) kill him by any meaning.

The confusion arises because Allah said "…they (the Jews) did not crucify him...”  What is important to understand is the word "crucify" means ‘to kill by crucifixion'.   The reason the Roman's (and NOT the Jews) put a person on the cross is to kill him according to their custom.  They would not put a person on the cross and later let him go away; so, the word “crucify" has an inherent meaning of killing by crucifixion. We can read clearly this in Gal 16:14 "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." We read this verse in Good News Bible translation as follows. Gal 16:14 "As for me,  however, I will boast only about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; for by means of his cross the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world". "The cross of the Lord" means "the death of the Lord" to Paul and that's why GNB translated the word crucified as dead. Thats why he (Paul) said "the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" means "the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world". They would not put a person on the cross and later let him go away; so, the word “crucify" has an inherent meaning of killing by crucifixion. Killing by crucifixion was their intent, and with this intent they did put him on the cross, however, they failed to kill him because "He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross". Remember Jesus said: "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself".

Please click here for more details on who killed Jesus and what was the cause of His death.

The Quran is not actually denying His crucifixion, nor yet His death. And to consider that He was raised up to life, and subsequently raised up to Allah, as is also in harmony with Bible (John 20.9-17; Acts 1.2-3, 9).  Please click here for more details on Jesus death from Quran.